Ms Dhu, the bright, loving, happy-go-lucky young woman who died in police custody

Known only by her surname, the young Aboriginal woman whose death in police custody was described by the WA coroner as "appalling" and "inhumane" was an affectionate and intelligent "happy-go-lucky" woman who came from a loving family.

Ms Dhu died of an infection on August 4, 2014, despite being taken to hospital by police three times in the previous two days.

The 22-year-old's Christian name is not used for cultural reasons, but in her findings into Ms Dhu's death, Ms Folgliani painted a picture of a bright young woman who had enjoyed a happy childhood, "raised by her grandmother in a loving environment".

She retained a close relationship with her parents, who had separated, and "had a cheerful and bubbly disposition".

"Ms Dhu was dearly loved by all of her family and she loved them. She was particularly fond of her younger sister and had a very affectionate relationship with her," the coroner said.

A keen netball player who also participated in Aboriginal dances, Ms Dhu was a "bright student" who completed Year 11 before training as a receptionist, and was "engaged with her family, her friends and her community".

However, all that changed when she began a relationship with Dion Ruffin.

"She was no longer her cheerful self and she was less family-oriented," Ms Fogliani wrote.

"Ms Dhu and Mr Ruffin did not have a stable home environment and they were not engaged in meaningful employment. Ms Dhu started taking amphetamines.

"She lost weight and she began to look frail and unhealthy. She ceased taking care of herself in the way that she previously did."

Relationship plagued by domestic violence

Ms Dhu's family were opposed to the relationship and wanted it to end because they believed Mr Ruffin was unkind to her and had negatively affected her self-esteem.

He was also violent towards her.

"She was in a domestic relationship that involved acts of violence, and her social circumstances generally took a turn for the worse," Ms Fogliani said.

"When they could, her family implored her to look after herself, and to cease taking illicit drugs, but unfortunately their exhortations were to no avail.

"Ms Dhu's family remained committed in their efforts to persuade her to take a better path in life, and they had faith in her capacity to do so."

By this time Ms Dhu and Mr Ruffin were living in Geraldton, where her situation continued to decline.

"In April 2014 they had an altercation and Mr Ruffin threw Ms Dhu over his shoulder, with the result that she landed heavily on an object, causing a fracture to her ribs," Ms Fogliani found.

But like many victims of domestic violence, Ms Dhu did not report it to hospital staff when she sought treatment, instead telling them she had "slipped on some rocks".

She was sent home with painkillers, but the injury continued to cause her pain.

Ms Dhu was "a stoic young woman, who was not given to complaining of pain", but after her arrest in South Hedland on August 2 for non-payment of fines, she complained of feeling unwell on numerous occasions to police officers and health staff.

But police were "dismissive of her symptoms" and thought she was "exaggerating or feigning symptoms of being unwell".

She died of an infection two days after her arrest.

"Her untimely death traumatised her grandmother and parents and unleashed a wave of grief that has reverberated throughout the Aboriginal communities," the coroner said.

"Tragically, they [her family] were unable to see her grow and develop. All of their dearly held hopes that she might turn her life around, and all of their expectations of the many years they would spend with her, were taken away with the news of her sudden and unexpected death."